Tunneling apparatus



April 1940- A. D CAPUTO 2,196,100

TUNNELING APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z t 1 a1N ZEg 5ZJR. BY

ATTORNEY.

April 2, 1940. A, D, APUTO 2,196,100

TUNNELING APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 jig. 6

ATTORNEY- April 1940- A. D, CAPUTO TUNNELING APPARATUS Filed June 14,1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 VIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlI 'llllllq'l'lllllll rrlilme will. I III!!! ill.

TTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 2, 1940 TUNNELING APPARATUS Antonio D. Caputo, Pittsburgh,Pa. I Application June 14, 1939, Serial No. 279,111

8 Claims.

The invention relates to a sheet metal shield of arch form which isadvanced into the tunnel as excavations progress, and which will supportthe earth while the permanent tunnel lining is Y 6 being installed.

One object of my invention is to provide a tunnel shield structure ortemporary roof and wall support of such form that it can conveniently beadvanced as excavation progresses and which ,can be readily manipulatedto direct it in curved paths.

Another object of my invention is to provide a tunnel shield and jackadvancing means therefor, so arranged that they can conveniently beemployed in facilitating the installation of the permanent lining forthe tunnel.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinalsectional view of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a protracted plan view of thetunnel-shield and hood of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on anenlarged scale through one of the lifting jacks of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is aside view thereof; Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line V-V of Fig. 4;Fig. 6 is a view taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 4; Fig. '7 is alongitudinal sectional View showing a modification of the structure ofFig. 1; Fig. 8 is a similar view showing means for distributing thruststresses of the horizontal jacks to the permanent tunnel lining members;Fig. 9 is an enlarged detailed view showing the manner in which the hoodportion of the shield is connected to the forward portion thereof, andFig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modification'of thecutter blade of Fig. l.

The apparatus comprises I-beams l2 and I3, each of generally arch form,connected by suitable cross bars [4 and I5, and constituting a frame forthe shield plates. Ateach side of the frame a pair of jacks l6 supportit on suitable track rails or plates ll. These jacks can be used toraise and lower the shield, and are mounted on trucks that compriserollers which are journalled in housings l8 that shield the rollers fromdirt and contain the bearings for the rollers.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, each jack comprises a screw H!which is supported upon the truck andextends through a bracket 211! thatis carried by the frame member M or the frame member 15, as the case maybe, the screw lfibeing splined or slidably keyed through its length, at2! to the bearing bracket or block and an operating nut 22 beingjournalled in the block 16 and, provided withradial holes whereby it maybe turned by a bar or handle. Rotationof (Cl. iii-85) 4 the nut 22 willeffect raising and lowering of the frame members l2 and I3.

The shield is divided into a front section A and a rear section B, thesection A consisting of sheet metal plates 24 that are bolted or rivetedto the frame members l2 and [3, the upper plates projecting forwardly ofthe arch beam I2 and carrying a blade 2 9a that serves as a cuttingedge. The longitudinal edges of the plates 24 are connected by spliceplates or bars 25 to which the plates are secured by screws or bolts.

The rear or hood section B of the shield is composed of sheet metalplates 21 whose forward edges are bolted to the arch beam iii. Theabutting edges of theplates are connected by splice bars 28 disposedagainst the inner sides of the plates, and having countersunk holesthrough which screws 29 extend and have screw threaded engagement withholes in the plates- 27. The

heads of the screws will be flush with the inner surfaces of the bars28. No permanent support other than the splice plates 28 are provided atthe rear ends of the plates 27 and, therefore, the shield section B canflex somewhat in going around curves of large radius. When the shield isto be pushed around curves of short radius (either laterally orvertically), the screws 29 and the bars 28 will be removed, so that theplates 2'! can flex more readily. For still further flexing of theplates 21, the bolts 30 (Fig. 9) at the forward ends of the plates willbe loosened somewhat but not taken out, to provide some looseness orlost motion.

The shield A- B will be advanced by screw jacks 3|, one of which will bemounted in thetop of theshield and others at the sides thereof,interiorly of the shield. The jacks are supported by the arch bars I 2and I3 and are shown as extending through the web of the bar 13. Attheir rear ends they have thrust engagement: with an arch bar 32 thatconstitutes part of the permanent tunnel structure or lining.

The jacks 3! each comprises a tubular portion 33 that is supported onthe beams I2 and i3 and a screw 34 that has threaded engagement with thesleeve 33 and thrust engagement at its rear advance that side at asomewhat faster rate than at the other side.

The tunnel lining consists of a series of arch bars 32 to which fillerplates 40 are connected, the edges of the plates being turned laterallyto form flanges at their inner surfaces through which bolts or rivetsare engaged to hold the plates together.

Before advancing the tunnel shield A-B from the position shown in Fig.1, another arch bar 32 will be placed therein adjacent to the arch bari3, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and liner plates 40 put intoposition. Thereupon the shield will be advanced by the jacks 3|. Tarpaper or other water proof material 4! can be pleased around the outersides of the beams 32 to prevent seepage of water through the tunnellining. The paper will direct water to the floor of the tunnel at theedges of the lining, from whence it can be drained or pumped away.

Where great force is required to advance the shield 23 by the jacks,heavy planks 42 will be placed between some of the arch bars 32 near thefront of the permanent lining, and angle bars 43 will similarly beplaced between said arch bars, as shown in Fig. 8. The angle bars 43 canreadily be removed for further use. Thrust blocks or bars ":4 which cansuitably be of channel form may also be interposed between the rear endsof the jack structures 34 and foremost beam 32, as shown more clearly inFig. 8, to distribute pushing stresses thereon and thus preventdistortion thereof.

As indicated in Fig. 1, short planks 45 set within arch beams 32, may beemployed in lieu of the lining plates 46, or the upper portion of thelining may consist of metal plates 4% and the lower side portionsthereof of the short planks 35.

Still another form of lining is shown in Fig. '7, such lining consistingof blocks or slabs 46 of reinforced concrete or the like, set into theI- beams 32 as shown, the blocks being mainly supported by these archbars 32. To facilitate installation of the concrete blocks 56, the screw34 will be retracted into the sleeve 33, whereupon the foremost arch bar32 will first be placed in the hood 2'! a little forwardly of its normalresting place, as shown at the upper right-hand corner of Fig. '7.Thereupon false work (not shown) may be set into place for temporarilysupporting the uppermost slabs 46, the rear ends of the slabs then beinginserted into the next arch bar 32. When all of the slabs 36 have thusbeen placed, the foremost bar 32 will then be pushed backwardly by thejacks or otherwise, into interfitting relationship with the front endsof the slabs 46. The jack screws 34 will then be brought into engagementwith such foremost bar, to again advance the shield, as in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 10, I show a structure wherein a cutting edge or knife 4'! canbe adjusted longitudinally of the shield plates 2 When going throughloose soil or sand which tends to cave too readily and thus interferewith operations near the front end of the shield, as through loosematerial burying the trucks I8 and their jacks, the members 4'! will beprojected forwardly as indicated by the dark lines.

The blade or blades 41 are secured to an arched plate or plates 43 thatfit interiorly of the shield 24, and have slots 49 through which boltsextend to permit of said longitudinal adjustment. The flanged end 56 ofthe member and strengthening blocks 52 carried thereby, have threadedengagement with screws or jacks 5| that abut against the arch bar l2, at53. The screws 5| have heads 54 whereby the screws can be rotated by awrench or in some other manner, to effect longitudinal adjustments ofthe cutter 41.

I claim as my invention:

1. Tunneling apparatus comprising a forwardly-projecting shield forpenetrating and supporting the earth into which it is advanced, a hoodsection disposed rearwardly of the said shield and connected thereto,the said hood comprising flexible plates extending longitudinally of thetunnel and curved to conform approximately to the cross sectionalcontour of the tunnel, and the longitudinal edges of adjacent platesbeing normally in abutting relation to one another.

2. Tunneling apparatus comprising a forwardly-projecting shield forpenetrating and supporting earth as it is advanced, a hood sectiondisposed rearwardly of the said shield and connected thereto, the saidhood comprising flexible plates extending longitudinally of the tunneland curved to conform approximately to the cross sectional contour ofthe tunnel, the longitudinal edges of adjacent plates being positionedadjacent to one another, and longitudinallyextending splice stripsoverlapping said adjacent edges.

3. Tunneling apparatus comprising a forwardly-projecting shield forpenetrating and supporting earth as it is advanced, a hood sectiondisposed rearwardly of the said shield and connected thereto, the saidhood comprising flexible plates extending longitudinally of the tunneland curved to conform approximately to the cross sectional contour ofthe tunnel, the 1ongitudinal edges of adjacent plates being positionedadjacent to one another, and longitudinally-extending splice stripsoverlapping said adjacent edges and detachably secured to the innerfaces of the plates, by attaching means that are countersunk withrespect to the interior surface of the strips, whereby the strips mayslide on permanent tunnel-lining bars placed within the said hood, whenthe shield is being moved forwardly.

4. Tunneling apparatus comprising a pair of laterally-spaced arch barsdisposed crosswise of the tunnel, a shield mounted on said bars, a

hood having its forward end supported by the rearmost bar and projectingrearwardly of the shield, and means for so connecting the forward end ofthe hood to the rearmost bar that the connection may be rigid whendesired, or nonrigid, to provide a flexible joint between the hood andthe shield.

5. Tunneling apparatus comprising a pair of laterally-spaced arch barsdisposed crosswise of the tunnel, a shield mounted on said bars, a hoodhaving its forward end connected to the rearmost bar and projectingrearwardly of the shield, and longitudinally-extending jacks carried bysaid bars and extending approximately to the rearmost edge of the hood,when expanded, the hood comprising flexible plates curved to conformapproximately to the cross sectional contour of the tunnel, and thelongitudinal edges of adjacent plates being positioned in abuttingrelation to one another.

6. Tunneling apparatus comprising a pair of laterally-spaced arch barsdisposed crosswise of the tunnel, a shield mounted on said bars, a hoodhaving its forward end connected to the rearmost bar and projectingrearwardly of the shield, longitudinally-extending jacks carried by saidbars and extending approximately to the rearmost edge of the hood, whenexpanded, and an arch bar fitting within said hood and engageable by therearends of the jacks, for supporting tunnel lining members, the shieldand the hood being advanced when the jacks are expanded against thelast-named arch bar.

7. Tunneling apparatus comprising a pair of laterally-spaced arch barsdisposed crosswise of the tunnel, a shield mounted on said bars, a hoodhaving its forward end connected to the rearmost bar and projectingrearwardly of the shield, longitudinaly extending jacks carried by saidbars and extending approximately to the rearmost edge of the hood whenexpanded, and an arch bar fitting within said hood'and engageable by therear ends of the jacks, for supporting tunnel lining members, the shieldand the hood being advanced when the jacks are expanded against thelast-named arch bar, and the hood being slidable on the said arch bar.

8. Tunneling apparatus comprising a pair of laterally-spaced arch barsdisposed crosswise of the tunnel, a shield mounted on said bars, a

hood having its forward end connected to the rearmost bar and projectingrearwardly of the shield, and longitudinally-extending jacks carried bysaid bars and extending approximately to the rearmost edge of the hoodwhen expanded, the hood comprising flexible plates curved to conformapproximately to the cross sectional contour of the tunnel, and thelongitudinal edges of adjacent plates being positioned in abuttingrelation to one another, the said shield having a cutting edgeprojecting forwardly of the front arch bar.

ANTONIO D. CAPUTO.

